Meet the Team

“Perfection is the enemy of good.” – Italian Proverb

You’ve come here looking for change. With this desire, you already carry hopes and strengths which hold the keys to the solutions you are seeking. Working with you, I will be honored to witness your blooming personality, unending motivation, and desire to grow! Our focus in therapy will be to start from the ground up, because strong foundations make rock steady lives, and identifying structures, behaviors and patterns is a great way to focus on personal development and goals. Together, we will work to identify symptoms and overcome obstacles.

I enjoy a mindfulness approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (identifying negative thought patterns and shifting them into reasonable, workable ones) and I have an artistic flair to Expressive Arts. As a registered Art Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor, my main focus is for you to feel understood and heard in a safe, non-judgmental and professional way. I have worked as a therapist since 2007, and carry a vast knowledge and expertise into all facets of improving your mental health and quality of life! I look forward to working with you!

Tess Amy is a telehealth provider and schedules clients weekdays during regular business hours. Please contact her directly at TessAmy@essentialmentalhealth.org or 505.699.8531 to check her current availability.

“Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Corri Broner

Clinician

I live in southern New Mexico where I love to hike in the high mountains surrounding my little town.. Curling up with a cup of tea and a book balances my movement with stillness. Cooking, gardening, yoga and creating herbal body care products is how I love to spend leisure time.

Thirty years of practicing holistic healing therapies along with my own healing journey has led me to the belief that the creation of a loving relationship with ourselves is one of the most challenging, yet essential, parts of the process. Loving Embodiment is a system of healing based on the integration of mindfulness (MBSEP), yoga therapy, cognitive understanding, and self discovery. Old patterns of thoughts and emotions causing dysregulated nervous system responses (fight/flight/freeze) can unwind through our gentle mindful awareness of breath and body. This practice provides the foundation to rewire our nervous system and brain, therefore providing relief from anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep issues and general feelings of hopelessness.

Once you have a stable foundation of nervous system regulation and self compassion to work with, you can design the life you want. Instead of focusing, labeling and analyzing what is wrong, together we will continually turn our attention to what is right about you and your life, and build upon your strengths, desires, and virtues. My ultimate goal is to empower you with skills to maintain balance within, so you are free to move into your most joyful expression of yourself in the world. I look forward to coming alongside you!

Corri is scheduling telehealth sessions. Please contact her at Corri@essentialmentalhealth.org or 505-307-6476

“Trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering.” – Peter Levine

Our earliest messages were how we judged ourselves, how we knew if we were okay, safe, or loved and worthwhile. These messages came from outside in, and the more they were repeated, the more strongly we owned them (even if we didn’t want to!) They became imprinted on our subconscious to be heard over and over again and thus ingrained as truth. When we relive old experiences, our bodies do not differentiate between past and present tense, so our bodies respond as if memories are actually happening in real-time. Until trained otherwise, our minds and bodies do not know the difference between past tense and present tense. Let’s change that!

I work with a wide range of mental health concerns, but I have a passion for helping individuals deal with the underlying trauma from their past that may be creating the issues they are contending with today. I approach helping others from a trauma-informed perspective, and I will walk the path with you as we work together towards the life you are looking for. Therapeutic approaches I practice include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT) among others. No one method works for everyone, so we will find the approach that works best for you.

As for myself, I am a retired Air Force veteran and current airline pilot. I have also chosen to pursue a new calling of helping others work through the “stuff” that is getting in their way of living a more resilient life. As the Buddhist proverb states, “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.”

I primarily schedule visits Wednesday – Friday, 9 am-4 pm, and offer both in-person as well as online video appointments.

You can reach P.J. via call or text to 505-234-6167 or email at PJ@essentialmentalhealth.org

“There is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion versions of normal on this planet” – Matt Haig

Since life will always be chaotic, we might as well embrace it, right? Through authenticity, compassion, and gentleness, we can work through all of life’s challenges together, one at a time. In the healing process, there is power in human connection, in which my main goal is to empower you while you achieve your goals. You are the expert of your own life, and I am here to support you during this process. When our brains can feel scrambled, my intent is to provide awareness of what you already possess, including strength and resiliency, while equipping you with tools to tackle new challenges.

I am a Licensed Master Social Worker with a background of child welfare, family intervention, and aftercare services for survivors. I graduated from Western NM University with my masters in 2022, and have been in the field since 2019. I work within the perspective of strengths-based and focus on psychoeducation so we can understand where our feelings, emotions, and behaviors come from. I have experience with youth, adolescents, and adults, and enjoy working through all life stages adventures.

When I’m not in session, I like to spend time with my three dogs who I refer to as my bubbies, read/engage in book club with friends, and travel with my partner. I tend to not take everything so seriously, so if you’re looking for a provider with humor and realistic approach, we might be a good fit!

Kennedy is currently scheduling clients both in person and telehealth during Mondays-Thursdays 8:00 am-5:00 PM. She can be reached at 505-585-2048 or Kennedy@essentialmentalhealth.org

“You know, people come to therapy really for a blessing. Not so much to fix what’s broken, but to get what’s broken blessed.” – James Hillman

My goals in the therapeutic relationship are to support you in cultivating a sense of inherent worth and empowerment in all aspects of your life. Through a holistic and trauma-informed approach, I help guide individuals toward a deeper appreciation and reverence of their own complexities and uniqueness. I specialize in the treatment of depression, anxiety, C-PTSD, PTSD, dissociation, relationships, substance dependence, and codependency. I love working with activists and organizers, artists, healers/therapists, and the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as male-identified individuals who feel a call to explore their inner worlds. I utilize trauma-informed interventions based on psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness, and somatic therapy. Much of my work is rooted in Internal Family Systems and I would love to help you accept all parts of yourself and channel your inner knowing into conviction and purpose. I believe we each inherently have everything we need to heal and thrive.

I strive to create an anti-oppressive, non-judgmental space for all of those with whom I work. I am deeply interested in interrogating cultural beliefs about wellness, mental illness, and diagnosis. In our work together, I will support you in challenging taboos, stigmas, and cultural norms.

Gabrielle is currently seeing clients telehealth only, weekdays 10:00 am-7:00 pm. Please contact her at 212-203-6308 or gabrielle@essentialmentalhealth.org

“Becoming ‘awake’ involves seeing our confusion more clearly.” – Chögyam Trungpa, The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation

Welcome! I am so honored to join you on this journey of growth called therapy! Most people don’t think of therapy as “fun,” but it can absolutely be a joyful process! I firmly believe that we are innately oriented toward growth and healing, and we all simply need support to help us move in the right direction. Balance IS intrinsic to us all, and believing this, I practice therapy in a way that helps you to find YOUR own inner healer and your own trajectory for living your most fulfilling life.

My practice is rooted in the traditions of Depth and Contemplative Psychology, two theoretical orientations that rely on cultivating self-awareness for healing, growth, and transformation. Contemplative Psychology focuses on the present moment- cultivating awareness and insight. Depth Psychology focuses on the innermost recesses of the mind, tapping into the subconscious and making what is unconscious, conscious. Through these dual lenses, you can create healthy and sustainable relationships that are free of both bias and judgment to ultimately experience wholeness. I am excited to meet you wherever you are on this path to wholeness.

When not practicing therapy, I can be found spending time with my family, practicing Buddhism and Yoga, gardening and enjoying nature, working with plant medicine, playing music, and learning to skateboard. I look forward to meeting you exactly where you are!

Justin is currently seeing clients in person, Monday-Friday, 10:00 am-6:00 pm, and can be reached at 505-270-7733 or email justin@essentialmentalhealth.org

“Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Sometimes life takes us down a path we never intended. Some call it being lost….I call it a detour. And often, detours allow us to explore and experience joys we never knew existed! Let’s get you prepared for those expected and unexpected changes that life will continue to hand us. With the right tools and new coping skills, we can move through life with easier to manage symptoms and stressors.

I am a social worker with 10 years experience in case management, community outreach, advocacy work, and clinical therapy. I graduated from UTEP with my masters in social work in 2022 and have been doing clinical therapy since 2020. I am a holistic and solution focused therapist that will help you create attainable goals and walk with you through the steps it takes to accomplish these goals. I will provide a supportive and empathetic environment that allows you to feel comfortable with me. I have experience working with individuals and adolescents over the age of 14 and I enjoy working with groups teaching coping skills. I utilize DBT skills training, CBT, and motivational interviewing. I feel comfortable working with individuals who are dealing with past or present trauma, depression, anxiety, some personality disorders, ADHD, and other mood disorders.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my 2 dogs, in nature, and falling into a research rabbit hole about the latest neuroscience or behavioral health discoveries.

Alix is currently taking new individual clients and skills group members. You can reach her at Alix@essentialmentalhealth.org or 505.600.1751. She looks forward to working with you!

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, and one for helping others” – Audrey Hepburn

I was born and raised in the tiny town of Santa Rosa, NM, and have called the “Big City” of Albuquerque my home for the past 8 years. Planting roots in Albuquerque, I have grown to love connecting with those in our community, especially with our young adult population.

I graduated from New Mexico Highlands University in 2019, and again in 2022, with degrees in Social Work, and I have utilized these degrees working both in outpatient settings as well as directly in the schools as a mental health counselor. Social Work and therapy holds a special place in my heart as it is a beautiful process to watch young people grow and flourish despite their struggles, background and obstacles. Working with children and adolescents plays an important role in offering preventative care, something I am extremely passionate about. The youth are our building blocks to creating a stronger community, and by teaching this next generation empathy, healthy coping skills, empowerment and so much more, we can literally change the course of the future!

I am bi-lingual and bring cross cultural knowledge to the counseling space. In therapy, though I’ll be along for the ride, I’m just the co-pilot! I hope you’ll find great joy in knowing YOU are putting in the effort to facilitate change in YOUR life, and I am excited to come alongside you on this journey. If you’re looking for a fun, music loving, all things pop culture therapist, you’ve come to the right place! When I am not working, you can find me spending time with family and friends, shopping or traveling. Give me a call or send me an email. Let’s get you going on that path to change your future!

Angelique is scheduling clients Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-6:00 pm in person, via telehealth and in the schools. She can be reached at angelique@essentialmentalhealth.org or 575.781.0534

“My job is to be a space where nothing in me is preventing the changes that you are wanting to emerge in you.” ― Ram Dass

I am a native New Mexican from Placitas, New Mexico. My journey through life has taken me down an unconventional path. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, this path has blessed me with a profound understanding of the complexities of pain and suffering. It has also given me the gift of recognizing the strength and power of resilience.

I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families from all walks of life. My expertise and passion are rooted in supporting people through challenging situations such as current and past traumatic events, environmental trauma, adjusting to life after incarceration, overcoming addiction, managing chronic illnesses, healing from abuse, and surviving intimate partner violence.

My approach to therapy is based on your unique life circumstances, we will use various resources and tools to help you achieve your goals. I provide a more individualized approach during therapy sessions rather than relying on talk therapy or any one specific modality. My goal is to work together on your personal transformative path of healing, self-discovery, and positive change, with your well-being at the heart of every step we take.

Outside the counseling office, I am a daughter, mother, wife, sister, friend, and fellow human being. I love adventures in nature and hot springs. I respect and cherish the infinite power of the universe, philosophy, spirituality, the earth, animals, music, and many other forms of beauty.

I want to invite you to reach out so we can explore how I can support you on your journey to well-being.

Julie is currently accepting clients both in person and telehealth (though she prefers in-person!) during weekday hours. Please contact her at 505.895.3484 or Julie@essentialmentalhealth.org

“Figuring out a way to work with how your brain works is your responsibility. But how your brain works is not your fault.” ― Charlie Peterson, Bioethicist

Welcome! I am so happy to come along this journey with you! I am fairly new to the mental health arena, but not “new” to life experiences! As a Master’s Level Intern, I am currently attending Adams State University, and am in the process of working closely with our Clinical Director to earn hours toward my clinical degree. I earned a BA in Graphic Design from Fort Lewis College, and have worked in advertising, print shops, and on film sets as a member and a department head. As a mental health advocate for my union, I focus on improving resources for members, especially in New Mexico’s film and TV industry.

As your therapist, I am excited to work with you tackling gender affirmation and equality issues, as well as all areas related to depression and anxiety. I view my position as a burgeoning counselor as a privilege, and with that comes great responsibility; I am honored to work with you on any issue you may be currently navigating.

Jess is scheduling in-person sessions, Monday – Wednesday. Additional hours upon request. Please contact them at Jess@essentialmentalhealth.org or 505-225-8619. Please note, Jess Danielle is supervised by our Clinical Director, Tess Amy Gaudet, LPCC